July 1, 2008

Key Passage: Matthew 5:38-42

Topic: Love; Relationships; Christian Living

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39, ESV)

Life is filled with the good, the bad and the ugly. With the presence of evil in the world, and all our different personalities and the crazy circumstances of life, there's bound to be conflict between us. It's just a given.

But if you know God personally, how do you handle unfairness, betrayal, insults--the arrows to your heart? You must make a conscious decision to lift your sights to focus beyond the bad that comes your way. That focus has to be on God--on love.

God set the best example of love by offering His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for the wrong doing of the world. And He has called us to love others. It's not easy to return good for evil, but it's what sets Christians apart from everybody else.

Love is a powerful tool and it grabs a person's attention when it's the last response they expect. It's an honorable thing to love, especially when it's undeserved. And when we do, we give the world a glimpse of the love of God. And that's an amazing assignment.

In all that life throws your way, try to make a habit of responding to others with love and grace. It's a learned trait, but you're acting just like God by doing it. There are eternal benefits to living beyond your own comfort and extending love in the most difficult of times.